Anti-fraud bureau unearths more hidden funds

Mumbai: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Maharashtra today uncovered more hidden funds as the investigation into the disproportionate assets case of a Public Works Department (PWD) executive engineer continued.

In Ahmednagar, ACP officials unearthed 9kg of gold, 5kg of silver and cash worth Rs5.5 million among four bank lockers belonging to Satish Chikhilkar, who was arrested on April 30.

Two other lockers yielded cash amounting to Rs42 million and 5.5kg of gold.

Chikhlikar, working in the PWD’s Nashik division, and section engineer Jagdish Wagh were arrested after the latter was caught accepting a bribe of Rs22,000 from a road contractor.

The bribes were collected each time grants were released for a contract. Both the men are in police custody till May 10.

During the probe, ACB officials found documents that stated the two engineers had accumulated assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Chikhlikar’s postings included Parbhani, Jalna, Latur and Ahmednagar and it was found that he had properties at all these places, besides Navi Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nanded. With new findings on his wealth, his assets could cross Rs150 million.

He had been earning an income by renting out the properties which included farms, plots, a factory and vehicles.

It is likely that Chikhlikar’s wife, Swati, could also be accused in the case since 80 per cent of the properties he owns were found to be in her name.

PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has ordered an audit of all projects that were under the coordination of the accused and directed officials to “observe zero tolerance if they come across corrupt elements among their subordinates”.